The small town of Pushkar, in eastern Rajasthan, completely transforms itself in early November to a spectacular fair that attracts tourists from the world over. The tourism revenue generated during the fair sustains the local population and takes them through the entire year. The Pushkar Fair is, essentially, two events coming together- the annual exhibition and sale of prize camels (Pushkar's a desert town and camels are much in demand throughout the region) and of course the marriage fair where the camel herder community's decked out in their finest and matches are sought for all their eligible young men and women.

There's colour and festivity all around. And, of course, camels- as decked up as the young brides and grooms to be. There's painted camels, dressed up camels, tatooed camels. Camels of all shapes and sizes and various forms and degrees of adornment.

But this one, I thought, took the cake. It's one thing, you know to do a David Beckham to your hair or shave your Premier League team's name on to your pate. It's another thing altogether when you try the stunt on your hairy deriere (assuming, of course, you've got hair enough back there). This guy seemed pretty happy, though, chewing cud and showing off his rump to the world at large!

The monsoons this year were especially unkind. Ahmedabad, and the places around, saw torrential rains beginning late June and continuing well into September. Heavy damage to life and property. The world around things were no different. Katrina, Wilma and all that sort of thing.

But out of every bad thing comes some good. A few days after the last of the heavy rains I came across this flooded brick-kiln on my way back from work. It was a few minutes before sunset and though the sky was blue everything around was tinted a vivid golden. A picture perfect moment, if not a perfect picture.

Like the oliphaunts of Tolkien's fantastical imagination. An army of fearful size and mammoth proportion.

Reality check- Actually only about 45mm high, carved out of solid teak wood and fresh-sprayed with a coat of melamine finish. Left out to dry before being shipped in bubble wrap. Not that intimidating, really...